Watchmeister

Well that explains why it looks so good.

It looks good but I still prefer the bracelet to a strap. Hey Thomas - You still got that Freak - always been jealous of that one. By the way I am finally putting together the MBW AP ROO gen dial movement combo. I will show you it when it is done.

Yeah, Bulgari paid for that spot on the wrist. It is their "Big Bang" equivalent.

Very pretty strap. Who made it?

S- Fabulous project. I love your work. -W

That is fabulous work. I wish I had known you were doing this. I could have sent you a spare Jimmy Fu case set and cg. I would have course wanted them back though. I believe they are only accurate for C-D series though. Most importantly, great effort.

The "turks supposed gens" have the same built-in spring mechanism to contemporary gens but use a three gasket system as opposed to an encased two gasket system. Current speculation is that they were early rejects for pre-v watches but who knows. They, like gen crowns are designed to fit a specific case tube which has a lip though. The traditional Jimmy case as well as gen cases have the lip so that the crown locks against the case tube, sits a specific distance from the base case and springs out once the lever is released. But with a standard rep case which has a much thinner simple hole you will likely have to replace that case tube or at a minimum enlarge it to get the proper seal and spring. You also need to be sure the cg lever is long enough to properly contact the crown once mounted as the contact point is recessed much deeper than on rep crowns. With the GMT and Davidsen crowns there is a spring mechanism. It is not as robust - but a lot less hassle. Gen contemporary manual wind crowns do come up but I believe they are selling for $200-300 each and you will still need to replace the case tube on most standard rep cases. Here is a pic of a contemporary crown/case tube on a gen (right) and "Turk" crown on Jimmy case (left).

Very nice. And yes, that solid back is stunning.

V- Needless to say ignore the noise. Either your friend is not a friend until the end or something set him off. Expensive parts and frankens are always going to stir very different emotions. Some folks appreciate it and some don't. Most folks who are around for a while go through all kinds of phases - reps, gens, frankens, etc. You are in your gen phase. But that may well change. And of course, it is completely irrelevant what you own or the pictures you post. It is all about adding to the community - and you certainly do.

Well here is my last contribution on this one: Rep caseback on Gen case: Same rep Caseback on Jimmy case with a gen clear caseback on right:

Well I am wearing a gen E series as I write this and also have a full Jimmy case set sitting here as well. They have the same dimple in between the lugs (at least on visual inspection as I don't have a screw driver in the office. . On the case back I don't know the answer but I have always thought there was one extra ring of thread on the gen caseback - not that it should make a difference. But once again I don't have a case back remover here either. Whose caseback are you using? That may be part of the issue.

You use one tool to press on the center button on the back side of the link above the actual link you are removing and the other tool to push out the pin while holding the first one down. This is how gen IWC bracelets function as well.

That is the funny thing about the vintage folks. They want to control the vintage world.

When men were men...he was the man.

Yeah, I know I am an idiot on that one. Been spending my GMT time with the 23 so I didn't even look at my pics. And on the A/B strap it is literally a strap that was made in the 98-2000 time frame. In some ways they are more primitive (stitching isn't perfectly straight, sides not perfectly finished, etc.) but the actual skin "seems" thicker, has more texture and a rougher finish (at least on the two I have) than more modern straps. And they usually are sold as used and so at a good price.

Apologies Fat.tail. I must have copied it some time ago and lumped it into a bunch of pics of mine. I suspect your pics may have been my inspiration for picking up the strap - so I owe you a thanks - twice. The funny thing is I do have the same strap but didn't even notice it was a gen 63 which I don't have. Congrats on a very nice watch.

Olreon- Thanks for the pic. Is that the second or third version dial? - Kruz

It's a conspiracy.... I knew those Admin guys were evil.

As far as I know there was never a 24A done with improved cyclops and properly polished bezel. They require work but you can get them to a high standard. Here is one with revised datewheel, redone dial (marker bezels eliminated), polished bezel, gen crown, Jimmy CG and crystal from the ultimate 199. I through in a later gen for comparison. They are a lot of work but you can judge the end product:

I got a Swiss movement waiting for V2. V1 looks great too. But I would definitely give Ubi's suggestion a go. It even worked nicely on the original Chrono Avenger rep lightening up the ti closer to gen. We will never know why but I always wondered why the rep oxidizes faster. I guess we can chalk that one up to lower quality metal.

I have always wondered about the third version as well. I do know that the first generation uses a slightly different font which is much closer to the original Pre-V lettering. Here is a good example as well as shots of the original Eddie Lee (looking closer to version 2) and the newer Davidsen as well. Gen 1st generation: Same gen and 2nd Davidsen grey version: It's all in the "6"'s and the "12"'s And finally - gen, Davidsen and original EL dial (wharped of course by crystal distortion):

Looks cool but it is a pain in the neck to take on and off. It is comfortable once on though. If you go that route you want the older version.

I love the A/B croc tangs. Incredible workmanship and skins and usually affordable. I think I paid under $100 for that croc and the patina is priceless. I have that one sitting on my 03 right now but IMHO it really makes any older PAM:

I grabbed some random pics of 63, 29 and 23 on various straps from my photobucket so ignore the poor pictures. Panerai contemporary Brown Croc deployant: Black Coramid: Croc: Panerai Black deployant and and Elliot Brown deployant: Pre-V: 23 on Gen A/B Croc: 23 on Xamas, 36 on old school Dirk:

The Ingy is a great rep but I am convinced that the last person who is going to call you out is an AD. You are a potential customer and represent possible income to the person. I also think he was trying to pick you up. Employees at AD's come in all forms from true horological freaks to folks who are just glad to have a job. And no, I am not in favor of parading around reps in AD's but if you are walking into a store anyhow it is always your call whether you want to slide the rep off your wrist before entering. In KK's case that probably was not an option if walking into a store with a date who doesn't know about your rep obsession. Nothing wrong with this post but for any NOOB reading this thread please do not read it as suggesting that trying to fool an AD is a good thing. You will never know whether you are actually fooling them and it is possible to end up in an embarassing situation.